Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose ranked 60th in SI's top 100 NBA players

Published Sep. 2, 2015 10:23 a.m. ET

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Derrick Rose was limited to 51 regular season games last season, and is three years removed from the last time he made an All-Star team back in 2012.

Still, when healthy, many would consider him to be one of the game's top 50 active players.

The folks at Sports Illustrated, however, don't necessarily agree. In the publication's ranking of the top 100 NBA players, Rose came in at just 60th. Here was their reasoning:

"At the peak of his powers, Derrick Rose’s ferocious off-the-dribble game was practically an offense in and of itself for the Bulls. In those days, Rose’s subpar outside shooting was an afterthought, as he could get anywhere he want on the court, finishing creatively at the rim, getting to the line and setting up his teammates for easy looks. Those days are gone, existing now only in flashes, as recurring knee injuries have sidelined Rose for more than 180 games over the last three years and neutered his offensive attack style. The 26-year-old former MVP’s quiet departure from USA Basketball this summer could be read as an acceptance of his new, less certain reality."

Rose averaged 17.7 points and 4.9 assists in 30 minutes per game last season, but his shooting percentage was low, especially from three-point distance.

A healthy Derrick Rose is undoubtedly better than Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Monta Ellis, who are ranked immediately ahead of him on the list. But whether or not he can remain injury-free for the bulk of an NBA season remains to be seen, considering the fact that he hasn't been able to do so since 2011. Until then, the ranking is probably justified, no matter how hard it may be for Bulls fans to swallow on the surface.

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